The Price of Being Female
Muhammad Talha Zubair
Rawalpindi: Gender-based violence (GBV) is not confined within the borders of a single country—it is a global epidemic tearing apart the very fabric of human society. Simply put, gender-based violence refers to violence inflicted on someone solely because of their gendered identity.
When we speak of gendered identity, we refer to how individuals are socialized, the expectations society builds around them, and how certain roles or behaviors are attributed to men and women based on their gender. In most parts of the world, women face violence simply because they are women—expected to act submissively around men and conform to rigid instructions in their everyday lives.
According to the UN Women Femicide Report 2023, a woman is killed every eleven minutes by an intimate partner or family member. These numbers represent far more than statistics—they reflect a deep-rooted societal crisis.
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It is critical to understand that GBV is not limited to physical violence. It includes emotional abuse, economic manipulation, psychological exploitation, harassment, and the denial of access to basic resources at homes, workplaces, public spaces, or educational institutions.
When Allama Iqbal said,
“وجودِ زن سے ہے تصویرِ کائنات میں رنگ”
(“The beauty of the universe owes itself to the existence of women”),
many misinterpreted this to mean women should be confined to the four walls of a home. In Pakistan, we linked women with honor—but then justified honor killings. We acknowledged their beauty—only to marry them off into silence and, in extreme cases, subject them to marital rape and acid attacks if they dared say “no.”
Despite making up 49.5% of Pakistan’s population, women are still constantly reminded that their rightful place is within the confines of چادر اور چار دیواری (veil and four walls), as Dr. Ishrat Hussain notes.
Globally, women are marginalized in numerous ways. They are paid less than men for doing the same work and are often perceived as less capable or less rational. Yet, according to a UN survey, 93% of working women invest their earnings back into their families and children.
In South Asia, the cultural preference for sons leads to devastating consequences. As Gayatri Spivak’s “double bind” theory outlines, women are burdened with cultural baggage and family honor—and are also punished for not conforming. When families learn that a woman is pregnant with a girl, she may face nutritional neglect and, in tragic cases, life-threatening consequences for both the mother and child.
At the heart of this violence lies hegemonic patriarchy and heteronormative masculinity. In many societies, asserting dominance over women is celebrated as “masculine,” and those who don’t conform are seen as weak or “not man enough.” This toxic peer culture fuels and legitimizes violence.
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A Glimpse Through the Lens of Documentaries
Filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has powerfully captured these harsh realities in her Academy Award-winning documentaries such as Saving Face and A Girl in the River. Her work highlights shadow justice systems like Panchayats, where patriarchal customs reign supreme. In one case, a father attempted to murder his daughter, and due to societal pressure and gendered expectations, the daughter was forced to forgive him.
The Law Exists—But Where Is the Enforcement?
Pakistan has several impressive laws for women’s protection:
The Women Protection Act (2006)
Protection Against Harassment at Workplace Act (2010)
The Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Act (2011)
However, the real issue lies in the enforcement of these laws. A woman might feel uncomfortable because someone stared at her for too long—but who will take her report seriously? More often than not, she will be ridiculed or dismissed, turning her pain into a joke.
We must work towards gender inclusivity in every sector of society. Governments should form specialized task forces to eradicate gender disparity and create harmony in workplaces and public institutions. Education must be made accessible not just in urban areas but also in rural communities where gender disparities are even more stark.
When gender-based violence is reported, the state must respond swiftly and decisively. The Supreme Court verdict in the Zahir Jaffer case is an example of how the judiciary can assert the state’s writ against hyper-masculine impunity.
The article is the writer’s opinion, it may or may not adhere to the organization’s editorial policy.
Muhammad Talha Zubair A Strategist & poet for whom stories beyond the sight are more vivid and audible.
